Apparatus to select-introduce printed or blank sheets and corresponding method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to select-introduce blank sheets and/or printed materials and corresponding method, comprising a positioning seating, a selector unit and an introduction unit suitable to select and introduce sheets in sequence according to the format and basic weight, maintaining high cadences and at the same time reducing the causes of blockages of the sheets in the apparatus.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an apparatus to select-introduce printedand/or blank sheets, to be associated with packages of medicines and/orvarious products containing notes or instructions, or also havingadvertising purposes. The selector-introducer apparatus isadvantageously associated with an apparatus for folding the printed orblank materials according to characteristics defined on each occasion.The invention also concerns the corresponding method to select-introduceprinted and/or blank sheets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Selector-introducer apparatuses are known, which are used for example inprinting machines, photocopiers or other similar or comparable machines.

Known selector-introducer apparatuses can normally handle sheets ofpaper with a defined basic weight, substantially constant dimensions oneach occasion and limited cadences.

Moreover, known apparatuses can often only work on blank sheets, thatis, without printing, or with printing that does not modify the basicweight of the sheets in a substantive and/or non-uniform manner.

It is known that known apparatuses can work with sheets already piled,or piled in pre-packaged packs with a defined format.

It is known that the instructions that are associated with medicinesand/or beauty products are reported on sheets with the most varieddimensions and with very different basic weights.

Moreover, before folding, to allow them to be introduced in the packagestogether with the medicine, the instructions are already printed, evenin color, possibly on both faces of the sheet.

This means that the sheet, which has the most varied dimensions, hasalready been subjected to passes in previous machines, and even severaltypes of ink have already been applied on it. This means that the sheetsno longer have the original flexibility and slidability, increasing thepossibility that blockages and/or damage might occur.

Furthermore, known selector-introducer apparatuses must also be suitableto work on advertising sheets, that is, which carry advertisingmessages. The advertising messages are advantageously made using coloredinks, the pigments of which, to obtain the desired shade of color, mustconstitute specific surfaces, thus giving the sheet different rigidity.

Moreover, as well as being bulky, known apparatuses are slow and requirefrequent maintenance operations and format-changes, which affect theoverall costs of construction and/or management.

For example, the prior documents U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,658 and EP2,774,884 describe selector-introducer apparatuses configured to selectblank sheets from a pile with defined dimensions and basic weight.

One of the disadvantages of these two known apparatuses is that the feedrolls are not sensitive to sheets with different basic weights and/orprinting on them. This means that, if the pile of sheets containsdifferent kind of sheets, for example sheets having printing on them,blockages and/or damage may occur.

There is therefore a need to perfect the state of the art and makeavailable a selector-introducer apparatus, and corresponding method,which overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of theart.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to select andintroduce sheets of variable dimensions and basic weights at least intosuitable and coordinated folding apparatuses or other apparatuseslocated downstream.

Another purpose is to allow to select and introduce sheets that haveprinting on them, even on both sides, with several colors, which alsogenerate specific and possible contiguous surfaces, with differentrigidity.

Another purpose is to obtain a selector-introducer apparatus which canwork at high cadences since the selection-introduction and foldingoperation must be limited in factors which are certainly extremelylimited, so as to not to negatively affect the final cost of the productsold.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention toovercome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain theseand other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independentclaim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of theinvention or variants to the main inventive idea.

According to the above purposes, an apparatus to select-introduce blanksheets and/or printed materials, and the corresponding method, comprisesat least a positioning seating suitable to prepare the pile of sheets,able to compartmentalize the sheets according to size, at least aselector unit able to select a single sheet without drawing the othersheets, and at least a possible introduction unit to insert the sheet ina regulated and cadenced manner into a suitable folding unit.

According to one characteristic of the present invention, the selectorunit has suitable separation and holding means, coordinated with amobile suction system in a controlled manner, suitable to select onlythe sheet to be removed from the pile.

According to another characteristic of the present invention, theselector unit comprises at least a motorized and controllable removalmean, able to remove and move only the sheet previously selected in theremoval direction, according to its dimensions and/or basic weight.

According to a variant the invention provides to selectively acquire thefirst sheet located in the lower part of the pile.

According to another variant, the removal mean cooperates with acontrast mean positionable to direct the sheet that has been removedtoward a subsequent user device.

According to a variant, downstream of the removal mean, if useful ornecessary for the correct introduction into the subsequent user device,there is an introduction unit, associated with suitable gripper meanscooperating with the removal mean. This allows to have a transit withoutglitches of the sheet along the apparatus until the next user device.

The subsequent user device, by way of example, can be a folding unit.

According to another characteristic of the present invention, theremoval mean and gripper mean are individually replaceable withouthaving to simultaneously replace at least the folding unit or othersuccessive user devices.

According to another main characteristic of the present invention, themethod comprises:

-   -   an initial tuning step of the selector-introducer apparatus, and        of positioning a pile of sheets in the positioning seating;    -   a step of regulating and compartmentalizing the pile of sheets        according to size, by suitable regulation means;    -   a step of separating and selecting a sheet located in the lower        part of the pile by a suction system positionable and        cooperating with separation and/or holding means;    -   a controlled and regulated step of removing the selected sheet        by means of a removal mean cooperating with a contrast mean        and/or at least a regulation mean, according to the dimensions        and basic weight of the sheet;    -   a controlled and regulated transit step of the sheet removed by        the removal mean to the introduction unit.

It comes within the spirit of the invention to provide a step ofinserting the sheet into a folding unit and/or other subsequent userdevice.

It comes also within the spirit of the invention that the method has amaximum operating speed of 350 single sheets selected and introduced perminute, advantageously but not exclusively a normal speed of around 250single sheets per minute.

According to another variant of the present invention, all theoperations are totally automated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as anon-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a lateral section view of a selector-introducer apparatus forsheets and/or printed materials according to the present invention.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used,where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings.It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment canconveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without furtherclarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a selector-introducer apparatus 10 for blanksheets and/or printed materials according to the present inventioncomprises at least a positioning seating 11, at least a selector unit 12and possibly at least an introduction unit 13.

The positioning seating 11 comprises a support plane 14 for the pile ofsheets, which can be reconstituted, also with different dimensionsand/or different basic weights, positionable in a controlled manner.

The positioning seating 11 also has regulation means 15 tocompartmentalize the sheets according to their width and/or to definethe necessary longitudinal and/or lateral position on each occasion ofthe sheets to be selected.

This allows to prepare a correct setting of the operating parameters ofremoval means 21 of the selector unit 12 and contrast means 23 of theintroduction unit 13, guaranteeing a correct and speedy transit of thedesired sheet, without glitches.

According to a variant, the positioning seating 11 can have a slopecomprised between 20° and 41°, advantageously around 30°, such that thesheets, also due to the natural vibration of the machine, arecontinuously settled and correctly positioned.

It should be noted that the positioning seating 11 is configured tolocate the sheets, even of variable lengths, positioning themcantilevered for a segment so that the first and lowest sheet in thepile can be selected, removing it from a lower cantilevered part.

The selector unit 12 comprises at least a suction system 16 positionablein a controlled manner by a movement mean 17.

The suction system 16 is configured so as to point its suction nozzle 18facing toward the lower surface of the first sheet, positioned at thebottom of the pile.

In a possible variant of the present invention, the movement mean 17comprises at least a rotation member 19 able to position the suctionsystem 16 with the suction nozzle 18 near the external lower surface ofthe first sheet.

When the suction nozzle 18 is near the external lower surface of thefirst sheet, the suction system 16 starts the air suction until itadheres to the surface of the sheet with the suction nozzle 18.

Keeping the suction active, the first sheet can be moved with the samemovement mean 17 of the suction system 16.

In particular, the rotation member 19, returning to the initial positionand keeping the suction of the suction system 16 active, separates thefirst sheet in contact with the suction nozzle 18 from the pile ofsheets, creating an air gap between them.

The selector unit 12 also comprises at least a motorized separator mean20 able to be inserted in the air gap created by the suction system 16,so as to function as a physical separator between the pile and theselected sheet.

The insertion occurs simultaneously with the slight lowering of thesuction system 16 so as to speed up the operation.

In order to remove the selected sheet without blockages, the suctionsystem 16 continues to rotate downward until it takes the end of theselected sheet into contact with a motorized and programmable removalmean 21.

The removal mean 21, by way of example, can be a roll or a transportbelt.

Furthermore, since it has the data of the dimensions and basic weightsupplied by the regulation means 15 available, the removal mean 21 isable to perform a rotation proportional to the parameters of theselected sheet, used to move the sheet forward.

According to a preferential variant of the present invention, theselector unit 12 also provides at least a holder mean 22 positionablebetween the pile and the selected sheet in contact with the pile.

The holder mean 22, resting on the edge of the pile of sheets during theremoval of the selected sheet by the removal mean 21, constrains theforward movement, preventing the selected sheet from drawing the pileforward with it.

The selector unit 12 also comprises at least a contrast roll 23,positionable in a controlled manner in contact with the upper face ofthe sheet in contact with the removal mean 21. The contrast mean 23allows to make the sheet removed transit in a planar manner along thedesired path.

The introduction unit 13, in a variant, advantageously comprisesdownstream of the selector unit 12, at least a connection chamber 24cooperating with at least a guide 25, such as a belt or other type,advantageously adjustable according to the desired format of the sheet.

The connection chamber 24 and the guide 25 allow the controlled transitof the sheet removed from the selector unit 12 to the possibleintroduction unit 13.

The introduction unit 13 also comprises at least a gripper mean 26, forexample a motorized roll, cooperating with an introduction contrast mean27 and with at least an introduction guide 28, advantageously adjustableaccording to the desired format of the sheet.

The introduction contrast mean 27, possibly positionable according tothe dimensions and/or basic weight of the printed sheet, functions as acontrast for the transit of the sheet between the gripper mean 26 andthe introduction contrast mean 27 itself.

The gripper mean 26 cooperates, rotating in a controlled and coordinatedmanner, with the removal mean 21, allowing the sheet to transit withoutblockages.

Furthermore, the purpose of the gripper roll 26 is to deliver the sheetto at least one folding unit 29, positionable downstream of theintroduction guide 28, which, while remaining constructionallyindependent thereof, is coordinated with the introduction unit 13.

The folding unit 29 comprises at least an entrance 30 to the foldingunit toward the introduction guide 28, able to receive the sheetarriving from the at least one gripper roll 26, stopping the travelthereof and preparing it for folding.

In addition, having provided the introduction unit 13 and hence theremoval mean 21 separate from the folding unit 29 facilitates thepossible maintenance or restoration operations in the event ofmalfunctions or blockages.

Moreover, the removal mean 21, performing the specific removal operationwithout performing the folding on its surface, does not limit itsfunctions to a specific format of the sheet removed.

In other words, if it is a removal roll that is used, the invention doesnot need to wind and fold the selected sheet on the surface of theremoval mean 21, thus allowing to select sheets of even greater lengththan the circumference of the removal roll.

This also reduces the occurrence of blockages of the sheet on theremoval mean 21.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the correspondingmethod comprises:

-   -   an initial tuning step of the selector-introducer apparatus 10        and of positioning the pile of sheets in the positioning seating        11;    -   a step of regulating and compartmentalizing the sheets according        to dimension and/or basic weight by regulation means 15;    -   a step of separating and selecting the sheet located in the        lower part of the pile by means of a suction system 16        cooperating with at least one separator mean 20 and/or at least        one holding mean 22 of the sheet;    -   a controlled and regulated step of removing the selected sheet        by means of at least one removal mean 21 cooperating with at        least one contrast mean 23 and/or regulation means 15, according        to the dimensions and/or basic weight of the sheet;    -   a controlled and regulated transit step of the sheet removed by        the at least one removal mean 21 to the at least one        introduction unit 13;    -   a step of inserting the sheet into at least one folding unit 29        by the at least one introduction unit 13.

According to the present invention, the selector-introducer apparatus 10as described heretofore has a maximum operating speed of 350 singleselected sheets introduced into the folding unit 29 per minute,advantageously around 250 single selected sheets per minute.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made tothe selector-introducer apparatus and corresponding method as describedheretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the presentinvention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been describedwith reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the artshall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms ofapparatus and corresponding method, having the characteristics as setforth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protectiondefined thereby.

1. An apparatus to select-introduce blank or printed sheets, comprisingat least a positioning seating associated with at least a regulationmean configured to predispose the selection and the removal of at leasta sheet from a pile of sheets, a selector unit comprising at least aremoval mean configured to move, on each occasion, a sheet of said pile,and an introduction unit associate to at least a folding unit locateddownstream, wherein said regulation mean is configured to makeavailable, on each occasion, the data of the dimensions and basic weightof said sheets to said removal mean, being said removal mean able toremove and move said sheet according to said data made available by saidregulation mean.
 2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said selectorunit comprises at least a suction system with a suction nozzleassociated and coordinated to operate with at least a movement mean andable to remove the first sheet located in the lower part of said pile,associating said suction nozzle with the lower external surface of saidfirst sheet of said pile.
 3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein saidselector unit comprises a contrast mean configured to position itself,on each occasion, in a control manner in contact with the upper surfaceof said sheet removed by said removal mean.
 4. The apparatus as in claim3, wherein said suction system cooperates with at least a separatormean, said removal mean, said contrast mean and with at least oneholding mean in order to select and remove said first sheet located inthe lower part of said pile from said positioning seating.
 5. Theapparatus as in claim 1, wherein said introduction unit comprises atleast a gripping mean, at least a contrast introducing mean and/or atleast an introduction guide coordinated with said removal mean in orderto correctly move said removed sheet and to introduce it in said foldingunit.
 6. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said positioning seating,said selector unit, said introduction unit and/or parts of these can beindependently substituted with respect to each other and by said foldingunit.
 7. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said removal mean isconfigured to remove a sheet, with a length greater than the perimeterof said removal mean, without winding said sheet around the wholesurface od said removal mean.
 8. A method to select at least one blanksheet and/or at least one printed sheet and to introduce it intosuitable seatings and/or apparatuses, comprising an initial step of finetuning a selector-introducer apparatus and of positioning a pile ofsheets in a positioning seating of said selector-introducer apparatus,said method comprising: a step of regulating and compartmentalizing saidpile of sheets according to dimensions and/or basic weights using atleast a regulation mean; a step of making available, on each occasion,by means of said regulation mean, data of the dimensions and basicweights of a sheet located in the lower part of said pile to a removalmean; a step of separating and selecting said sheet located in the lowerpart of said pile; a step of controlled and regulated removal of saidselected sheet by means of said removal mean based on said data madeavailable by said regulation mean; a step of controlled and regulatedtransit of said sheet removed from said removal mean to saidintroduction mean.
 9. The method as in claim 8, comprising at least aninsertion step of the at least said sheet in at least a folding unitand/or other suitable apparatus by said introduction unit.
 10. Themethod as in claim 9, providing sheets with maximum operating speed ofup to 350 individual sheets selected and introduced into the foldingunit per minute, advantageously a normal rate of around 250 individualsheets a minute.
 11. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said selectorunit comprises a contrast mean configured to position itself, on eachoccasion, in a control manner in contact with the upper surface of saidsheet removed by said removal mean.